Thanksgiving the healthy way

By: Victoria Pan

You can make your Thanksgiving feast a healthy yet appetizing meal. Photo courtesy of Google Images

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and there is one thing on everyone’s mind: food and more food. Thanksgiving is the time when people, teenagers especially, have the chance to break from their diet’s and eat whatever they can get their hands on. However, the consequences come after Thanksgiving Day. You look in the mirror and the only thing you see is the three layers of fat that magically developed on your stomach. This Thanksgiving you can eat just the same amount while staying in shape and without feeling guilty.

The main course of the meal is, of course, the turkey. Turkey itself already has a whole lot of fat and cholesterol. It is best to go with the skinless turkey in order to get rid of the fat. Other than that, turkey has a good amount of zinc, potassium, other vitamins and most importantly Tryptophan. Tryptophan is an important acid that helps with sleeping, eating, and can even alleviate pain. If you want to increase the nutritional value of the turkey, add oranges, dried apricots, onions, or barley as the stuffing instead of only bread. Olive oil can be used as a substitute for regular canola or corn oil.

Cranberry sauce is another healthy choice. Cranberries help to prevent the spreading of infectious diseases. They also have antioxidants which can help with cholesterol in our bodies. Cranberries can even prevent a urinary tract infection from spreading into your kidneys. This low-fat sauce has been proven to benefit the skin and hair as well.

A side dish that is healthy and still mouth watering is the sweet potato. Don’t be fooled by its taste. It contains a fair amount of fibers and protein. Sweet potatoes, like cranberries, have antioxidants. They are also rich in vitamin C, copper, potassium, vitamin B6, and iron. Another side dish is broccoli, which can be served with garlic and parmesan cheese on top. Broccoli has a lot of fiber, other vitamins, and even has anti-cancer effects.

Finally we come to the best part of the whole meal, the desserts. There is no way to resist these divine pastries. Pumpkin pie is a very good choice of dessert. It is low in cholesterol, sugar, and has a great source of dietary fiber, iron, and vitamins A and C.

There is no more need to feel guilty about what you ate after Thanksgiving, even if it meant sneaking a piece of homemade chocolate pecan pie. You can give thanks that you are healthy from the appetizing and hearty feast!